Japanese in Ranam in the 1940s

Setting up artillery in the snow.

By Robert Neff

A young soldier and his mount.

Gazing at their faces it is hard to tell their ages: some look like boys while others look like young men. One soldier does an impressive handstand on his horse’s saddle ― a feat of youthful confidence and trust in his mount. Another soldier lovingly embraces his horse after he has apparently brushed and rubbed it down following a ride.

We do not know who these young men were, apart from that they were members of the Imperial Japanese Army’s 19th Division, which had moved to the Ranam area of North Hamgyong province in northern Korea in the late 1910s.

This region was infamous for ferocious and brazen tigers as confirmed by newspaper accounts of tiger attacks in village markets in daylight claiming the lives of men and domestic animals.

Somewhat fittingly, considering its location, this division was known as the Tiger Division.

These candid pictures give us a glimpse of what life was like for soldiers in the Ranam area ― especially in winter. Trudging through the snow, setting up artillery and cleaning and caring for their mounts in the frigid cold were probably tasks they performed far more often than the young soldiers would have liked.

Caring for their horses in the muck and snow.

Unfortunately, there were no pictures of their barracks ― undoubtedly they were rather Spartan by today’s standards ― and very few that might provide glimpses of how they spent their off-duty time.

They probably spent a lot of time taking care of their equipment, writing letters home, singing, playing games and thinking about their wives and girlfriends. The unknown owner of this scrapbook was most likely an unmarried soldier because it has several postcards of beautiful women ― but they were not Japanese, they were Koreans.

What became of these soldiers is unknown, but the unit remained in Ranam until the end of 1944, when it was moved elsewhere ― the tide of war had changed (quite some time ago) and Japan was losing.

Transporting horses.

Doing a handstand on his mount.

Trudging through the snow during winter training.

Trudging through the snow.

An unidentified young soldier in winter clothing.